Gulf Coast Life

When we choose to do something, are we always consciously aware of why we made that decision? That is one aspect of the field of research our guest today has spent the past several decades investigating. Dr. Sandra Schneider is Professor in Cognition, Neuroscience, and Social Psychology, Department of Psychology at the University of South Florida in Tampa.

This Wednesday, March 24 at 7:00 p.m. the Florida Gulf Coast University Center for Critical Race and Ethnic Studies is hosting a virtual presentation called “The Black Lives Matter Movement: Insurgent Intersectionality and Radical Inclusivity in the Twenty-First Century.” It’s presented by Dr. Reiland Rabaka, Professor of African, African American, and Caribbean Studies in the Department of Ethnic Studies at the University of Colorado, Boulder.His presentation will provide an overview of the historical roots, core principles, political critiques, and social commentary of the Black Lives Matter Movement, particularly how the movement is grounded in, and grew out of, the black radical feminist tradition in the U.S.

Dr. Ella Mae Piper, an African American woman born in Georgia in 1884, moved to Fort Myers in 1915 and immediately opened businesses including a beauty salon and a soda bottling company. Her entrepreneurial spirit formed the foundation of a life focused on philanthropy and community building — including the Dr. Piper Center for Social Services that has supported low-income seniors, frail elderly, at-risk youth, and special needs children since 1976.

A new study conducted by Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary found that groundwater levels in the sanctuary have dropped substantially over the past two decades, mostly due to downstream canals. Lower water levels during the dry season contribute directly to threatened wood stork nesting failures, reduce water recharge and wildfire protection benefits, and contribute to poor downstream water quality.

We explore what the Sunshine Laws cover today and how people can exercise their right to access information about how their government and other public bodies operate with Tony Conticello, he is a Tallahassee-based attorney that specializes in Sunshine Law compliance.

We’re continuing our series of conversations with speakers from the Naples Discussion Group’s 20-21 schedule today by talking with Dr. William Felice, he’s Professor of Political Science at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg. We’re getting a bit of a preview of his talk titled “The Ethical Dimensions to International Relations and American Foreign Policy.”

One of the more universal pastimes of Southwest Florida is dining out and for years people have been guided by the News-Press restaurant critic, Jean Le Boeuf. Of course, the food critic behind the nom de plume has not always been the same person. Recently, the last of the Jean Le Boeufs revealed that she — not he — is actually food writer Annabelle Tometich. We sat down with her to talk about the decision to reveal herself as the local restaurant critic and get the gastronomic low-down on the food scene in Southwest Florida, and the pressures of wielding a mighty pen and fork.

Lauren Redniss's OAK FLAT and Maisy Card's THESE GHOSTS ARE FAMILY.

We speak with Desmond Meade, he was a driving force behind the passage of Amendment 4 to the Florida constitution passed by 65% of voters in 2018. Meade is President of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, Chair of Floridians for a Fair Democracy, and author of the book “Let My People Vote: My Battle to Restore the Civil Rights of Returning Citizens” which recounts his struggles with addiction and homelessness before turning his life toward public service and the Amendment 4 campaign.

When our guest today came to Florida Gulf Coast University in 2007 the school didn’t even have a minor in entrepreneurship. But she immediately went to work to change that and is still here today working to grow the program. Dr. Sandra Kauanui is now Director of the FGCU School of Entrepreneurship. Since its founding in 2016 the school has rapidly grown. Its mission is to infuse an entrepreneurial mindset all across the university by offering an interdisciplinary entrepreneurship major, minor, and graduate certificate.